Podcast Summary: This Guy Sucked

Episode: James II with Brooke Newman (Subscriber Preview)
Date: January 1, 2026
Host: Dr. Claire Aubin
Guest: Dr. Brooke Newman (Virginia Commonwealth University)

Main Theme

This episode examines the legacy of King James II of England, focusing on his vastly under-discussed—and deeply negative—role in the transatlantic slave trade and the expansion of English imperialism. Historians Dr. Claire Aubin and Dr. Brooke Newman use a blend of scholarly rigor and irreverent humor to challenge popular perceptions (and silences) around James II and the British monarchy, exposing the realities behind a figure often omitted from both celebration and condemnation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Getting to Know Dr. Brooke Newman

• Background: Associate professor at VCU, expert in early modern Britain and the monarchy. Forthcoming book: The Crown: The Hidden History of the British Monarchy and Slavery in the Americas.
• Archival Tales:
  • Favorite Archive: National Archives at Kew—convenient pre-ordering, self-checkout-like experience for historians.
  • Tips for Researchers: Use apps like Genius Scan to streamline photo documentation of manuscripts (04:22).
  • Anecdote: Grueling experience trapped on a train back from Kew during strikes—“You just have to subject yourself to a small amount of physical torture to get back to where you want to go.” (07:19, Claire)

2. Why James II?

• Choice of Subject:
  • Brooke selected James II/Duke of York for his rare universal unpopularity: “He’s a royal that pretty much everyone can hate. Good haters can hate him. Royalists can hate him. Everyone hates him.” (08:16, Brooke)
  • James lived through, and shaped, key dynamics of the 17th century—Restoration monarchy, English expansion, and the slave trade.

3. Why James II’s Role in Slavery Is Overlooked

• Popular Memory: Most people only recall his Catholicism, “arbitrary rule,” and the Glorious Revolution.
• Reality: “Only really since 2020 have we heard more about James II and his role in slavery.” (10:51, Brooke)
• Key Point: Despite being at the very top of the slave economy (as royal investor and power in the Royal African Company), public focus skews toward lesser figures like Edward Colston.
  • Quote: “We do see people sort of like, doing the historical version of getting angry at, like, a middle manager rather than Jeff Bezos, if that makes sense.” (12:44, Claire)

4. The Royal African Company & Accountability

• Power Structure:
  • James II was far more influential, wealthy, and invested in the slave trade enterprises than high-profile entrepreneurs like Colston.
  • General public was not, until recently, aware of this connection—even as statues of Colston came down, statues of royal founders stood unchallenged.
• Societal Reluctance:
  • Deep discomfort in Britain with criticizing the monarchy’s history—even on “obviously bad” issues like slavery (13:17).
  • Attaching critique to royal figures stirs national anxieties about identity and heritage.

5. Cultural & Scholarly Inertia

• Taboos & Selective Critique:
  • Criticism of past monarchs like James II is permitted mostly because the Glorious Revolution “casts him out,” making him safe to denigrate.
  • This hesitance halts with later monarchs and the modern royal family.
  • US Comparison: America slowly grappled with Founding Fathers’ legacies, but the monarchy’s hereditary aura in Britain raises the stakes.
  • Quote: “If you have people, a family, an institution associated with national identity...it’s very hard for people to look at that institution and the members of that institution in a critical way.” (14:19, Brooke)

6. Why Critiquing Historical Figures Matters

• Teaching History:
  • Brooke discusses how popular her classes on Tudors are, underscoring public fascination with monarchy—yet also the importance of facing uncomfortable truths.
  • Podcast Purpose: Audaciously interrogating those who “actually kind of sucked,” challenging received wisdom.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On archival work:
  “It’s almost like self-checkout for historians...To have access to all of these amazing materials and just be able to whip through them quickly...it is transformative for my research.” (02:44–03:44, Brooke)
• On public perceptions of culpability in the slave trade:
  “We do see people sort of like, doing the historical version of getting angry at, like, a middle manager rather than Jeff Bezos, if that makes sense.” (12:44, Claire)
• On the monarchy as a national symbol:
  “If you have people, a family, an institution associated with national identity...it’s very hard for people to look at that institution and the members of that institution in a critical way...And I find that to be really interesting as a historian, but also just someone who is just kind of an Anglophile.” (14:19, Brooke)
• Podcast’s irreverent spirit:
  “They don't really like him that much anymore either. So he’s a fun one to hate on in that way.” (09:18, Brooke)

Key Timestamps

• 01:18 — Introduction of Dr. Brooke Newman
• 02:44 — Archival research logistics and Genius Scan app
• 06:20–07:46 — Brooke’s ordeal with public transport after archival work
• 08:16 — Why James II is the most hateable royal
• 10:32–12:44 — James II and the undervalued connection to the slave trade
• 14:19 — The cultural taboo of criticizing royals and national identity

Tone & Style

The conversation is witty, sharp, and openly critical of its subject while remaining scholarly and deeply informed. The hosts use humor to disarm taboos and invite listeners into complex discussions about history’s villains—making even grim subjects accessible for a broad audience.

For Further Listening

This preview cuts off before a deeper dive into James II’s reign, his detailed actions as Duke of York and king, and legacies in slavery and British colonialism. Full discussions available for Patreon supporters.